This was announced by Russia’s Deputy Defence Minister Yuri Borisov while on a working trip to the Primorye Territory located in the country’s Far East.

The modernization will include updated electronic and communication equipment as well as new weaponry. The 24 P-700 Granit naval anti-ship cruise missiles (AShM) will be replaced with up to 72 newer P-800 Oniks or Kalibr AShM.

The Project 949A submarines are around 155 m long and has a submeged displacement of 19,400 tons. They were the largest cruise missile submarines in service, until the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines were converted to carry cruise missiles in 2007.

They are the fourth largest class of submarines in displacement and length. Only the Soviet/Russian Typhoon-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), the American Ohio-class SSBN and the Russian Borei-class SSBN are larger.

The submarines are powered by two pressurized water cooled reactors (PWR) with two steam turbines delivering 73,070 kW (97,990 shp) to two shafts. They have a maximum surface speed of 15 knots and a maximum submerged speed of 32 knots.

Eleven submarines of the class were built, out of which eight are currently operational with the Russian Navy Northern and Pacific fleets.